Many underwhelmed by Northeast's spring snowstorm

Mark Prattassociated Press

Published 7:03 am, Monday, March 21, 2016

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Snow gathers on a budding maple tree in Boston, Monday, March 21, 2016. The National Weather Service says southeastern Massachusetts, including Boston and Rhode Island could get several inches of snow through Monday morning. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Snow gathers on a budding maple tree in Boston, Monday, March 21, 2016. The National Weather Service says southeastern Massachusetts, including Boston and Rhode Island could get several inches of snow through

A woman walks past a construction site as snow falls in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Monday, March 21, 2016. The National Weather Service says southeastern Massachusetts, including Boston and Rhode Island could get several inches of snow through Monday morning. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

A woman walks past a construction site as snow falls in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Monday, March 21, 2016. The National Weather Service says southeastern Massachusetts, including Boston and Rhode

BOSTON (AP) -- Steady snowfall made for a sloppy Monday morning commute across much of New England, yet many residents were relieved that the spring storm wasn't nearly as bad as first forecast.

After initial forecasts last week of up to a foot or more of snow in some areas, the National Weather Service downgraded its predicted precipitation to about 6 inches across much of eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and northeast Connecticut. Coastal areas of New Hampshire and Maine could get a little more, up to 8 inches.

Plymouth nurse Kathy McKee was pleasantly surprised when the storm didn't dump as much snow as predicted. When she left her home, only 3 to 4 inches of snow had fallen, compared to some forecasts that had predicted as much as 10 inches.

"I'm relieved now and back looking forward to spring again," she said.

Greg Crawford, manager of a rental car company in Buzzards Bay, was unimpressed. He took a shot at forecasters who overestimated the storm's impact.

"I think their ratings are down compared to last year, so they needed something," he said.

Less snow was expected in New York. A little more than 3 inches had accumulated in Nassau County. New Jersey and Pennsylvania had slight accumulation on cars and grassy surfaces.

Schools across New England either closed for the day or delayed opening by two hours.

Police in New England reported several morning accidents, likely caused by slick roads.

Power outages were minimal, but dozens of flights in and out of Logan International Airport in Boston were canceled.

Kathy Fernandez was unfazed.

"It's New England. No big deal," said the Providence, Rhode Island, resident, briskly walking to work as flurries fell. "It's just a little flurry. For the amount of snow we've had this year, I can't complain."

The snow is expected to taper off around midday, and then quickly melt as temperatures rise into the 50s by midweek.

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Denise Lavoie in Whitman, Massachusetts; William Kole in Bourne, Massachusetts; Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; and Ulana Ilnytzky in New York City controinued to this story.